Police arrest man in burglary at grandparents' Natick home

Tuesday

Mar 11, 2014 at 6:00 AM

By Norman MillerDaily News Staff

A Natick man broke into his grandparents' Rutledge Road home on Saturday and impersonated his grandmother on the phone so he could use a credit card he had stolen, authorities said.Natick Police arrested Michael C. Donahue, 20, at the Natick Mall on Saturday after he used the Macy's credit card to run up $3,200 worth of charges, according to a Natick Police report filed in the Natick District Court, which is housed in Framingham District Court.Donahue's parents reported the break-in at 19 Rutledge Road at 3:50 p.m. on Saturday. They said someone had broken into the home through a window in the bathroom, and they suspected their son, Donahue, who has a drug problem. They said they had removed all of the valuables just in case he broke in, the report said.Police went to Macy's after Donahue was spotted. A Macy's employee said Donahue had tried to use his grandmother's store credit card, but it was denied. Police tracked him to a jewelry store where he tried to sell a necklace, but was turned down.In the mall, police found Donahue, with the card"When asked where he got the credit card, Donahue stated, 'At my grandparents'," the report said.Donahue also admitted to stealing a TV and a necklace to sell to get drugs, the report said. He said he broke in on Friday and slept there overnight and used their computer.Officers also found out that Donahue had successfully used the credit card earlier in the day and spent $3,200 on clothing, jewelry and cologne.When Donahue first tried to use the card, he was not allowed to because he was not a listed user on the card, the report said.Donahue then returned to his grandparent's house, called Macy's and "Donahue pretended to be (his grandmother) and had his name successfully added to the credit card," the report said. He then returned and bought the items.Police charged Donahue, of 1 Waring Road, with breaking and entering during the night, larceny of property worth more than $250, larceny of a credit card, making a false statement to obain a credit card and improper use of a credit card.Judge Robert Greco sent Donahue to a 10-day drug evaluation program. Prosecutor Nate Burris did not argue bail, reserving his right to do so until Donahue is released from the program.Norman Miller can be reached at 508-626-3823 or nmiller@wickedlocal.com. For up-to-date crime news, follow Norman Miller on Twitter @Norman_MillerMW.

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